PSNH releases ice storm report; customer cost to be determined

PORTSMOUTH — Restoring power to 55 percent of the state’s residents after the December 2008 ice storm required 1,700 Public Service of New Hampshire employees to replace 780 damaged poles and 1,300 blown transformers. The cost, according to PSNH, was $75 million, some of which will be passed on to consumers.

By Elizabeth Dinan

seacoastonline.com

By Elizabeth Dinan

Posted Feb. 9, 2009 at 4:06 PM

By Elizabeth Dinan

Posted Feb. 9, 2009 at 4:06 PM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — Restoring power to 55 percent of the state’s residents after the December 2008 ice storm required 1,700 Public Service of New Hampshire employees to replace 780 damaged poles and 1,300 blown transformers. The cost, according to PSNH, was $75 million, some of which will be passed on to consumers.

According to a report released by PSNH on Monday, some of the cost will come from PSNH’s “storm reserve account,” with insurance paying up to $15 million with a $10 million deductable. The balance will be paid over time, in a manner to be determined by state regulators, according to PSNH.

As an example, PSNH estimates that $50 million over five years and $10 million in capital costs over 30 years, would add $1 a month to the bills of PSNH customers using 500 kilowatt hours of electricity a month.